www.charlesjeromeware.com. "Here to make a difference."
Charles Jerome Ware, Attorneys & Counselors, is a highly-regarded Maryland-based national lead-paint defense law firm. For an initial courtesy consultation, contact our lawyers and counselors at charlesjeromeware@msn.com (410) 730-5016 or (410) 720-6129. This blog is intended for informational purposes only, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
As a lead-paint defense attorney who has successfully represented numerous landlords, property owners, and property management agencies in Baltimore for several years, I can safely say from experience that Baltimore City has a lead-paint poisoning public health problem. The most important step the Baltimore community can take to save the City's children from lead poisoning is to prevent lead exposure before it occurs.
To be sure, protecting Baltimore's children from exposure to lead is critical to their lifelong good health. Frequently, even low levels of lead in the blood of infants can have deleterious effects on the child's IQ, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement.
Lead can be found in a variety of sources, including:
* paint in homes built before 1978.
* water pumped through leaded pipes.
* imported items including clay pots.
* certain consumer products such as candies, make-up, and jewelry.
* certain imported home remedies.
The potential or actual Baltimore residential property landlord should be aware of the following, inter alia :
- If the rental house was built before 1950, the house 9if not occupied by the owner0 falls under the Reduction of Lead in Housing Act, which protects tenants and imposes certain duties on landlords. In addition, owners of houses built between 1950 and 1978 may also participate in this lead poisoning prevention.
- A good reference resource is the Maryland Department of the Environment's ( MDE's) "Lead line" website.
- A shared feature of Federal and Maryland state lead poisoning laws is that both require landlords to give each tenant the pamphlet, " Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home".
Maryland law also requires distribution by landlords of an additional pamphlet titled " Lead Poisoning Prevention - Notice of Tenants' Rights".
- Routinely and consistently check the property for chipping, peeling, or flaking paint .
- Follow diligently the Maryland Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, enacted in 1994 by the Maryland General Assembly with the purpose of reducing the incidence of childhood lead poisoning while maintaining the stock of affordable rental housing. The program is administered by the MDE.
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